Attended KolpoKoushol 2023 at IUB
I recently attended KolpoKoushol 2023 at Independent University, Bangladesh, where the acceptance rate was less than 14%. Supported by a2i, Kickstarter, The event brought together students and employees from diverse backgrounds with the motto of "Imagination Engineering." It was an open platform founded by MIT graduate Nazmus Saquib bhai to encourage talented individuals to collaborate on new ideas, bridging the gaps between traditional disciplines. The goal was to solve local and community-specific problems. The workshop spanned four days.
On the first day, we had an introductory session, a session of "How make (almost) anything", engaging with others and discussing our interests. We were given two problem-solving areas: Food and Nutrition, and Music. I was particularly interested in AI music generation for the country's first AI music concert. I formed a group based on shared interests, and after lunch, we started building model. We were humbly guided by Mamun Bhai! It was a long day, and I didn't stay in accommodation, so the journey back home was tiring.
The second day featured sessions on design thinking by Saad A. vai, Web3 session with a focus on blockchain, which piqued my interest. I delved into learning about blockchain, and thanks to the kind direction of Tahlil Tahlil vai, Rafe Samnan vai, Mahabub Alahi vai, I worked on a blockchain-based crowdfunding platform throughout the night.
My third day began with AI model work but eventually led to C programming for creating a new instrument. I joined a team working on an Arduino C-based project, leveraging my prior knowledge of C programming. Despite the official workshop hours, I stayed at IUB Fablab until midnight. We continued working on AI music and C programming, and it was inspiring to see Saquib Bhai's dedication.The third night was still not over as I worked on backend integration for the AI model output, going to bed around 3 AM.
The fourth day was the demo day, and I had taken formal accommodation. Our AI music generation team was excited to showcase our work, despite feeling a bit tired. We prepared presentations and resolved last-minute issues. Our project impressed everyone, and our AI-generated track made it to Bangladesh's first AI concert, which you can find on YouTube. ( https://lnkd.in/dzBCrj9h )! At last we enjoyed the melodious Concert, and went back home with bags full of experience!
Through my experience at Kolpokoushol with three different teams, I rediscovered my capacity as an adaptive learner with a strong interest in research and development. I look forward to shaping the future.
